Curler for making pin curls



1951 J. H. MOSES ET AL CURLER FOR MAKING PIN CURLS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 EDMUND Qu/ /cy M0555 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 CURLER FOR. MAKING PIN CURLS Josephine H. Moses and-Edmund Quincy Moses, Scarborough, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1949, Serial No. 88,838

This invention relates to hair curlers and particularly to curlers for making that type of curl commonly known as pin curls or sometimes as flat curls in which a strand of hair is curled into a toroidal form and pinned. closely to the surface of the scalp, the axis of the curl being normal to the head surface. Curls of this type are largely used by hairdressers, who acquire considerable skill in curling the hair around the finger. It is well known, however, that when the hair is wound around the finger to form a flat pin curl, the end of the finger is placed against the head and the hair is then wound from the scalp out, thus resulting in the ends of the hair being on the upper rim of the curl, making it necessary to invert the formed curl before it is fastened in order to have the hair ends next to the scalp. This can be done by a professional operator, but is difficult, particularly on the back of the head, when doing ones own hair.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided which will enable a woman to make thoroughly satisfactory pin curls on any part of her own head. The curler of the present invention includes a mandrel upon which the hair may be wound, starting with the tip and winding the hair towards the scalp so that the tip ends of the hair are on the inside of the curl. This is accomplished by providing clamping means of such character as to hold the tips of the hair in position upon the mandrel while the curl is being started, the clamping means coinciding with the rounded surface of the mandrel in such a way that the hair ends will not be 'kinked or sharply bent so as to stick out when the curl is combed out. The clamping means are furthermore provided with an opening or slot which greatly facilitates the removal of the curl from the mandrel, it being possible to press the thumb or finger over the hair and between the sides of the slot, thereby sliding the wound hair including the ends of the hair which'were under the clamp down to the end of the curler without displacement of such ends from their position within the curl, resulting in the hair ends being still inner-.- most of the curl and against the scalp. The mandrel is also provided with a forked formation at the end in which the space between the fork portions is of the maximum available width with respect to the diameter of the mandrel and is also of substantial depth lengthwise of the mandrel. This formation facilitates the introduction of the bob pin or clip in a fully opened position so that it may easily be manipulated to receive the curl. Also' owing to the formation of the 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-33) forked part of the mandrel, the position of the opening may be readily determined by the touch of the fingers, thereby enabling the pin or clamp to be readily entered into the opening, even when curls are being made on the back part of the head where the curl is invisible to the operator.

The clamp having the slot-for the purpose of permitting disengagement of the wound hair without distorting the curl, is adjacent to the opening in the mandrel and extends beyond the end of said opening. Thus, when the curler is grasped between the fingers with the point of contact of either thumb or finger being between the prongs at the sides of the'slot inthe clamp, it will be held so that the fork opening in the mandrel is in position to receive a pin or clipdiametrically of the curl. With the foregoing considerations in view, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a curler'for making'the' character of curl referred to in a simple and effective manner and which the person making" the curls may use on any part of herownhead to produce a curl having all of the characteristics usually obtainable only by employing the services of a skilled hairdresser. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide a curler of the character described in which means are provided for holding a bob pin in opened or partly opened condition where it may be lreadily grasped and manipulated so as to properly grasp or clamp the curl;

Another object of the-invention is to provide a curler of the characterv described which may be constructed and assembled in a very effective but inexpensive manner; Another object of the'invention is to provide a curler in combination with a pin or clip having a formation coacting therewith for holding the formed curl in desirable shape, the construction of the parts being such as to assure the proper positioning of the pin or clip with respect to the formed curl.

Another object of the invention isto provide. improved curl securing means for use with a curler of the character described. I

Other objects and advantages will appear in the'course of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention illustrative of the bestmodes now known for practicing the same, it'being understood, however, that other embodiments of the inventionare possible and are intended tobe included with in the scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the accompanyingflrawingsz, 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of curler embodying the invention, part of the curler body being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the curler shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the pivot and spring construction on a larger scale;

Figure is;,a. trenevel'sesection, on line 4-4 of; Figure 1;-

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective, viewsillustrat: ing steps in the manipulation of the curler;

Figure 8 is a side elevation oiabobpm of; a; la

form particularly suited for use in combinatior; with the curler of the present,inventiipn;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view, showing a part of the forked end of the curler, showing-gap improved curl holding clip being manipulated in:combin ation with the, curlerto engage-a pin curl of toroidal iormwhich isshownin section;

Figure 10 isa plan view of the form-of clip. shown in Figure 9 Figure: l1 is atransversesection of the clip taken online I cw-l LofFigureem;

Figure -12 is-a side-elevation of a modified construction of curler, partstbeing broken away;

Figure. 1,-3;is-a transverse section on lines Iii-43 of Figure 12;;

Figure 14 is a;transverse section on line I l-l4. otiFigure 12.;

Figure 15 is; aview partly side elevation and Partly in longitud nal sectionv of: another -modiled m. Qithe eurleri:

Figure 16;is;;a,: transverSc section on line l6-.-l 8' of Figure 15; and

F re H is: a; ransverse section on l n I of'Figure 15;,

Referrin o. the drawin sin'. de ail; he curlershown-inFi ure-J compri es a; m ndrel r barrel 2.02 which maybe either solid or;part1-y or wholly hollow, itibeing conveniently'formedas a tube with abore122 extending" entirely hrou h the. same; Pivotally.mountedruponthe mandrel is a clamp 24 for engaging with the tips ofrthe. hair tostart the curLand-enable it::to-.be .wound upon the mandrelfrom. theinsideoutwardly. as the StIaIIdTOf hair is: wound up. by. rotation of the mandrelztowards the-scalp. The tips of the. hair are engaged-:under the. clamp while.- the remain ing convolutions. of the curl: are wound, over i the; clamp as well as the mandrel.

The clamp may be mounted upon the mandrel in any: suitable manner; A very desirable construction from the point of view of" manufacture and one which facilitates: the assembly of the clamp upon the mandrelinthe most inexpensive manner is shown inEigures 1+4. As here illustrated', the mandrelhas ears .Zfiiormed thereon. which are providediwith slots 28 opening in an axial'direction into enlarged bearing recesses 30." Such a mandrel may be formed most. inexpensively by molding itai'roma plastic such, for example, as polystyrene; By utilizing a two-part mold having a parting planecorresponding'aps. proximately. with: the dotted line w-b shown inFigure 1, the mandrelican be: formed as a unit with the ears. 261: thereon and slots and recesses 28 and 30 maybe moldedatz-the same time by: useof core pieces carried: by. the left hand-fmold section. The portions; of; the mandrelat' opposite sides on the: parting plane are preferably tapered longitudinally very slightly towards their endswhich will facilitate removal.

from the mold sections. It will be observed that the slots '28 are narrowed slightly so that the width of the passage through them is slightly less than the diameter of the recesses 30. This will not prevent proper removal of the core pieces, however, as the plastic will yield sufficiently to permit that to be done. This same characteristic of the plastic ears with the slots and recesses also permits the assembly therewith of the pivot pin 32 upon which the clamp itself is pivoted. The clamp in the form shown has a body portign 34 provided with downwardly turned flanges 36.Which,loo.$e.1y enclose the ears 26 and which carry the pivot pin 32. Suitable spring means are: provided, such. for instance as the coiled torsion type spring 38, the coiled part of which shrroundsthepivot pin 32 and which is providedwith projecting legs and 42 which engaga respectively, the underside of the clamp body 313, and the surface of the mandrel between theears, 2t, This construction .makes, for very easy assembly as the spring may be threaded on the pivot. pin and thelatter riveted over so. as to. secure the same permanently betweenzthe ears 26 of the clamp before any of these metal partsareattached to the mandrel. The leg 42 of the spring will project atanangle from the clamp before assembly as indicated, ,for example, by the dotted lines 42c; in Figure 3. In assem-- bling the metal parts with the plastic mandrel, the clamp and spring are manipulated in such a" way that the leg #32 of the'spring'is bentfrom the; dotted position 42d to the full line position 42.as the clamp. and spring assembly is moved longi- 5 tudinally of and towards the axis of the mandrel as theclamp and pivot pin 32 are brought into a, position wherethe pivot pin: may be snapped-through the slots: 28 and firmly seated in therecesses 30. This simple operation firmly; attaches the clampto the mandrel and at the same time-tensions thesprin so thatit will bias theclamp in a direction, to hold the'clamping part of the same in firm engagement with the. mandrel until it is lifted out of; such contact by the, manipulation of the. finger piece 44 at the end of the; clamp body.v

Theclamping part of theclamp is preferably formed with a pair ofprongs- 45: which may con-- veniently bev p ovided withstiifening ribs-48 and; which enclose between them an elongated open ins or slot 50. This slot extends as; far as con- Venienttowardsthe clamp-pivot. and should be; of; such length as to overlie; that part of themandrel about which the curl isto be formed. The-slotshouldbe as-wide asit can convenientlybe. made, dependent upon the size of the mandrel; It.-may be of the samewidth; throughout; but as shown'it is wider at its'end nearest to they pivot than it is at the tip. of the. clamp. It is desirable for the slot 50 to extendall the way to .such tip. although as stated, theouter part of the'slot' may be of reduced width. The tip 52. of5the clamp should terminate'a substantial distance from the end of the mandrel so that the endsv of the curl may be. completely withdrawn from under the-clampv before the mandrel isremoved from it.-

In the end of the mandrel which the: clampv overlies, a trans-axial opening 54 is. formed which dividesthe end of the mandrel into a pair of 1 spaced fork members. 56'. If the mandrelhas a.centra-1 bore of such diameter that'it is aslargeenlarger than the width of the trans-axial open: ing, then the opening 54.- isv infact formed by: cuttingtwdaligned. areas throu h. the walls at:

the mandrel as is apparent from Figure 5. The trans-axial opening should be of as great a width as can be readily formed in the mandrel without weakening the fork portions beyond a safe strength and without having the effect of decreasing their width to a point where they do not provide sufficiently broad curved surface portions 58 to properly support the curl and hold it in the desired form. In practice, the opening, to accomplish these results, may be made of a width equal to or slightly exceeding half the diameter of the mandrel. By way of example, the mandrel may be 'made of a diameter of approximately and the trans-axial opening may have a diameter of A" to These dimensions are merely illustrative, but a mandrel diameter of about produces a curl of a size usually found .desirable. To meet these conditions where a smaller curl is desired, as near the temple or nape of the neck, a smaller model of the curler may b provided. The longitudinal depth of the opening from the tips 60 of the forked portions to the end or bottom 62, of the opening should be sufficient to permit a fully opened bob pin or curl clip to be inserted with one leg of the pin or clip close to the scalp and the other leg embracing the top of the curl. In order to surely permit this result to be accomplished, the depth of the opening should usually be at least twice the diameter of the mandrel. The edges of the forked portions at the sides of the opening should preferably be well rounded off, as indicated at 64 in Figure 5. This enables such rounded edges to be used as effective finger guides for enabling the user to locate the opening by feeling so as to determine its position and enable her to properly place the bob pin or clip even though the curl may be on the back of the head where it cannot be seen. The location of the opening by touch is further facilitated by the fact that if it is made of a width approximating at least half of the diameter of the mandrel, the curved edge portions 64 of the forked portions 55 will be offset inwardly of the main diameter of the mandrel, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The tips 50 of the forked portions should be well rounded off, as indicated, so as to enable the end of the mandrel to be pressed against the scalp without discomfort.

. The mandrel is preferably made out of a smooth hard surfaced plastic, polystyrene being one plastic very suitable for the purpose, although any other plastic having similar physical characteristics may be utilized. As such plastic gives a very smooth and finished surface, the curl may be slid off from the mandrel with great facility. The mandrel may also be slightly tapered from its center towards its ends and such very slight tapering of the part of the mandrel upon which a curl is formed will further facilitate the removal of the curl.

. The use of the curler will be clear from what has been said. A strand of hair of proper size and preferably not too bulky is combed out and its end laid on the mandrel under the clamp 24 which has been raised by depressing the finger piece 44. The ears 25 projecting from the mandrel form effective stop means for preventing the hair from being wound too far up on the mandrel. When the tips of the hair are properly secured under the fingers 46 of the clamp, the curler is rotated in a direction to wind the strand of hair smoothly upon the mandrel from the tips towards the scalp. When this winding operation has been carried as close to the scalp as is desired, the'user swings the mandrel through approximately ninety degrees, so that it is held in a position generally normal to thehead surface, as shown in Figure 6. The user then grasps the mandrel between the thumb and fingers with one finger, usually the thumb, placed over the slot or opening 50 at the top of the curl where it will engage with the tips of the hair clamped under the clamp; the fingers are then manipulated so as to push the curl towards the scalp, thus flattening it out,-sliding it off the clamp and forcing the tips of the curl from under the clamp, so that the curl is held by the fingers in flattened condition close to the surface of the scalp, the curl still being supported, however, upon the rounded outer surface 58 of the forked ends 56 of the mandrel beyond the tip 52 of the clamp. As the thumb or finger sliding along the slot in the clamp can be relied upon to push the hair tips from under the clamp, it' is unnecessary to open or attempt to open the clamp at this time by pressure upon the finger piece 44. Such action is inconvenient and furthermore the clamp cannot be lifted without loosening the curl as all of the convolutions of the curl except the first one are wound over the clamp itself. As the curler is small and light, particularly where it is made of a hollow plastic formation, as shown in Figure 1,

it may be readily held in position normal to the scalp between the fingers of the hand holding the curl close to the scalp. The user then takes a bob pin or curl clip in the other hand, opens it wide, and passes one leg of the pin or clip under the curl close to the scalp and the other leg through the opening 54 over the curl. As the curl still surrounds the end of the mandrel and as the opening 54 passes diametrically across the mandrel, it is impossible for the user to apply the bob pin or clip in any but a position diametrically across the center of the curl, thus assuring that the curl will be properly and symmetrically gripped. Owing to the slot 50 in the curler clamp and to the formation of the edges 64 at the sides of the opening 54; the location of the opening 54 may be readily determined by feeling, in instances where visual observation is impossible. Thus, accurately formed curls can be made at the back of the head, as well'as at the sides or front.

Figure 7 shows a bob pin being inserted through the trans-axial opening in the curler so as to grip the'curl before complete removal from the mandrel. Figure '7 also shows completed curls on the head'of the user adjacent to the curl to which the pin is being applied. While any form of bob pin or curl clip may be utilized, provided the latter is not too wide to go through the opening, it is desirable to use a form of bob pin or clip which is provided in its upper leg with recessed portions, between which is a projecting portion of a length approximately equal to the diameter of the mandrel and which will enter the central opening of the curl torus. In this way, the curl is held in the proper toroidal form without subjecting the thicker portions of the curl to excessive clamping pressure during drying.

Figure 8 shows a bob pin of this form in which the lower le H! which is inserted next to the scalp is straight or approximately so, while the upper leg comprises a pair of outward curved portions 12 separated by a relatively straight portion 14 which will lie inmore or less close contact with the leg -10 while the curl itself is held clamped under thecurved portions 12.

. The -rear or-outer end. of the mandrel which-1e preferably hollow, as described-,- is desirably providedwwithrabeveled end 68., Thisv permits a, bob piir which maybe of any ordinary type or may be of theparticular formv shown Figure: 8., to be'i-nserted over the beveled end 68'w-ith' one'le inside of the bore ofthegmandrel and the other leg on, the: outside, as shown in Figure 1. If a bob pin iSgPU-l] on the mandrel inthis manner beforeeach curl is made, it Will be readily found by the fingers of theuser at the instant when it is desired to insert thesame in a position to grasp the curl, as shownin. Figures 6 and '7. The bob pin will furthermorebe held inopen or partly. open position by the mandrel wall so that it may be readily manipulated intofully open position by the fingers prior-to itsapplication to the curl. The". use oft-he wall of the mandrel at the rear end of. the ciu'ler fortemporarily holdin the bob pin is-,. of course, purely optional with the user.

. Figures 9, 10 and-'11 show a form-of clip par-- ticularly adapted for usein combination with the curler-for the'holding-of the formed pin curl. In the-construction shown in these figures, the curl clip comprises an inner plate or leg l8 which may be straight or nearly so, so as to lie close tothe surface of the scalp; and another leg or plate 88 is; assembled in pivotal relationship to the plate 18; which is preferably formed with outwardly curved'portions fizseparated by a straight depressed portion 84 of a length approximating the diameter orthe mandrel or width of the forked portion thereof so as to enter the open center of the curl jwhich is clamped under the curved portions 82, as shown in Figure 9. The clamp memhere. 18 and: 8| may be secured together in any suitable mannenlpermitting their pivotal opening. As illustrated; they are shown as held together by a short elastic band 88 of rubber or plastic which encloses and is held in position by enlargements 88- on the-clamp members. The rear ends of the clamp members are spaced and properly shaped to'form finger grips 98- and 92, by which the clamp members may be separated. The clamp members may be-made of metal, if desired; but are preferably formed of a suitable plastic. In the latterevent; they may be ribbed or transversely curved,- asshown in Figure I1, so as to increase their resistance to bending. They thus may be made of ample stiffness while of such width that they: maybe readily passed through the opening. 54.. Obviously, any other Way of pivotally connecting the clamp members may be employed in place of' the elastic band construction shown.-

A .modified 'construction oicurler is shown in Figures: 12,..135 and 14.- In this construction; a

plastic mandrel isrutilized which may lie-either is'notsnecessary 'unless itisdesired to secure a perfectly-flush finish between the surface of the band and the surface of the mandrel. Therband {24 has outwardly projecting ears I through which the tubular'rivet 126 passes, the clamp 24, which may be of the same form as the clamp shownin Figures. 1 to 6, being secured to the ears [39 by: means ofa pivot pin 32 passin through the-tubular rivet I26. A spring I38 is shown as. mountedupon the tubularzrivet. If the mandrel: is of solidconstruction. as, illustrated, it may be 85. tapered at its; outer end, asshown at.- l wtandmayg bejprovided with a central ho1e= I42 of such size as to receive one-leg of abob pin. The other end of the mandrelis provided with an opening 54; as. already described inconnection with previous. figures.

A-mandrel of elliptical section has been shown" in Figures 12, 13 and 14, instead of a1 mandrel; of circular cross-section, asshown in Figures; 1 2-, 3 and 5. The elliptical section will produce; a curl which inpractice' is not distinguishablein appearance-from a circular curl. The elliptical. form, however, has the advantage of giving; greater width in the direction of the major axis.- of I the ellipse; therebypermitting the making-pf, the trans-axial opening 54*Wider with respectto: the" circumferential dimension of, the curl 1 than; is. possible with acircular mandrel. By; makin the opening siiwider, it is possible to introduce a-wide' clip: for-gripping the curl, such wide clips. being frequently used at the present time for the? clamping of pin curls.-

Another modified construction of" curler-is shoWn'in-Figuresl5; l6 and 17. The construc--- tionof curler here illustrated lends itself to: manufacture entirely out of plastic; except as to the spring. The curler body or mandrel ll-flr is generally similarin shapeto the mandrels describecl'and is provided at one endwith.- a. trans-axialopening 54 It is shown as havinga inold'ed recess-idii'formed therein, such recess having parallel sides M4 and an arcuatebottom. surface hill; The clamp-is shown as a molded. integral body of plastic I l-8 which hasa disc-- like body portion Hitlfittingin the recess 14% with such'closeness as to permit it to rotate freely between the-Walls of therecess. A pivot i521; which may be made of plastic, if desired, passes: through" holes in the mandrel concentric with: the curvedivall- I48 of the recess, such pivat: also passing through a=h0le in the clamp body Hi6; The-1 clamp body I58 carries a pair of clamping arms 154 betweenwhich is a spaceriSB serving the'same purpose as the slot'or space 50: in the form of clamp'shown'in Fig. 2. 'The-clamp body also carries'a'n operating finger piece I58? which is preferably of the same width as the body and'can be depressed into an extension [60: of the recess [MI The lower portion $62 of ther- ,finger piece" 458' preferably extends intothe recess portion its when the clamp is completely closed, so that no part of the interior of the recess M2 or of its extension I68 is visible in a; completed curler. Thus, a smooth, attractive appearance is secured and dirt is also excluded from the recess; Any suitable type of spring may be used for biasing the clamp into closed'position. As shown, a coil spring IE4 is used which:-

is mounted in a portion of the recess.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a curler"- for making pin curls has been provided-which is very eiiective in use and simple to manufacture and which involves no complications such as" ejectors orpushers for attempting to remove the curl or apply the bob pin or clamp or otherscurl',

holding means, to. the curl. .iuch complicated. devicesv not only require extra manipulation onthe part of. theuser of a character which the user cannot perform without special instructions or practice, but may result in danger of the'ha-ip beeoming-caughtinthe ejector 'means or other; special :devices. The curler of the present inven tioncan be manipulated by theffingers' inv 8r; natural, manner; and; provides exceedingly;

simple and efi'ectual aid facilitating the natural manual operations of making a curl.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. It is not, therefore, the intention to limit the patent to the specific constructions illustrated, but to cover the invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

We claim:

1. A pin curler comprising a mandrel of unltary construction the 'outer end constituting a hand grip portion, and having a wide deep opening extending transversely through the same from the inner end of the mandrel for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof so as to form the end of the mandrel into a pair of spaced fork portions, said fork portions having smooth curved outer surfaces upon which the hair may be curled and from which the curl may be easily slid off longitudinally, said fork portions having smooth rounded GdgGSBXtEHdil'lg longitudinally of said transverse opening to guide the fingers of the user and facilitate'the introduction of the curl holding pin or clip between said fork portions into position to engage a curl surrounding said fork portions, the opening between said fork portions being unobstructed and being deep enough to permit introduction of the bob pin in an open pin position, and an elongated clamp pivoted to said mandrel at a point further from the forked end of the mandrel than the end of the transverse opening, said clamp being of concave transverse section fitting over the smooth curved surface of one of said fork portions, and means for biasing said clamp so as to normally hold the clamping portion in clamping engagement with the surface of the mandrel at one side of the transverse opening therethrough, the tip of said clamp extending lengthwise of the mandrel beyond the end of said transverse opening but terminating a substantial distance short of the end of the mandrel.

2. A pin curler comprising a mandrel of light unitary const uctio t e uter e d constituting a hand -grip portion, and having a wide deep opening extending transversely through the same from the inner end of the mandrel for ta substantial distance longitudinally thereof so as to form the inner end of the mandrel into; a pair of spaced fork portions, said fork portions having smooth outer surfaces upon which the hair may be curled and from which the curl may be easily slid off longitudinally, said fork portions, having smooth'rounded edges extending longitudinally of said ltransverse opening to guide the fingers of the user and facilitate the introduction of the curl holding pin or clip between said fork portions into position to engage a curl surrounding said fork portions, and an elongated clamp pivoted to said mandrel at a point further from the forked end of the mandrel than th end of the transverse opening, said clamp having a clamping section fitting over the smooth surface of one of said fork portions.

JOSEPHINE H. MOSES. EDMUND QUINCY MOSES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS" Number Name Date Re. 13,442 Davis July 16, 1912 364,956 Posner June 14, 1887 547,863 Radford Oct. 15, 1895 1,978,394 Sehring Oct. 23, 1934 2,146,160 Schlicker Feb. 7, 1939 2,163,112 Wolkow June 30, 1939 2,221,227 Huppert Nov. 12, 1940 2,224,328 Wideman Dec. 10, 1940 2,278,693 Finkelstein Apr. '7, 1942 2,308,653 Freeman Jan. 19, 1943 2,318,972 Simas May 11, 1943 2,321,433 Sommers June 8, 1943 2,381,195 Whittaker Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,912 Great Britain June 13, 1938 

